Bearing.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

M. L. HOYT.

BEARING.

APPLICATION FILED 11,111.2, 1910.

PH co., WASI-ll roN D c M. L. HOYT.

BEARING. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2, i910.

Patented De0.24,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I iwf@ J4/5.74 34 9;'44

5 45 Il il UNITED sTATEs MATTHEW L. HoYT, or LITTLE EALLs, NEW YORK,Assieivon To D.

n 0E LITTLE FALLS, NEW YoEK.

PATENT oEEioE.

BEARING.

Specification of Letters Patent. yApplication led March 2, 1910. SerialN o. 546,860.

Patented Dec'. 24., 1912.

and useful Improvement in Bearings, of

which the following is a specification. y

This invention relates Ito that class of bearings which are used inconnection with shafts or spindles rotating at a high speed forsteadying the shaft or spindle and preventing a gyratory, wabbling `orother irregular ,motion kof. the same. Steadying bearings are employed,for instance, in connection with the shafts or spindles of 'centrifugalseparating machines, particularly those which are used for separatingcream Itis essential for producing'the best results rin such a machinethat the rotarymotion of the separating bowl should be., absolutelysteady and without vibration, even if the bowl is somewhat out ofbalance, and that the bowl should rotatewith as little friction aspossible, since any irregularity of motion in the bowl will causeincreased. friction and resistance, which isy particularly objectionablein ahand machine, and will prevent the bowl from reaching the high speedwhich is necessary for a practically complete 'separation of the butterfat fromy the milk, and may render the machine unsafe. f

The object of this inventionis to produce a steadying bearing or devicewhich is'simple in construction, durable, not liable to f get out'oforder, and which will enable the shaft or spindle to assume thatposition in which it runs without vibration, gyration or i otherirregularity of motion.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting ofy two sheets: Figure l is a.sectional elevation yof a centrifugal separator embodying theinvention, the separator being ofthe typein which the bowl isv securedtothe upper end of the spindle. Fig. 2 is a detached side elevation ofthesteadying device, on an enlargedscale, with the cover shown insection. Fig. Sis va vertical ksection of. thek steadying device line 36, Fig. t. Fig. 4

vis a topfplan view of the steadying device,

showing the cover of the same in section.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section inline 5-`-5,

Fig. 2. Fig. 6 kis a perspective viewy showing the contact members ofthegsteadying device in full linesand the head ofthe same tion of acentrifugal separator embodying H. BUEEELL & oo.,

Vin dotted lines.` y Fig.y 7 is a sectional elevay thisy invention, itheseparator being of the type in which the bowl is suspended from anoverhead bearing. Fig. `8`is a detached side elevation'of the steadying'device withv the cover shown in section. Fig. `9 is a vertical sectionofthe steadying ydevicein line 9-9, Fig. IO. Fig. 10 is a top plan viewof the .steadying device, showing they cover in section. Fig. `11 is ahorizontal section in line 11-11, Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is a perspective viewshowing the contact members of the steadying device in full lines andthe head of the same in dotted lines.

' Like y reference characters Vrefer, to like parts in theseveralfigures.

In the embodiment of the invention repl resentedA in-Figs. 16, thesteadying device or bearing is applied to the spindle of a centrifugalseparator which has yits f bowl secured'to theupper end of the spindleand ter is applied ,to'theupper portionof they spindle below the bowland-is supported ink the stationary frame in `suchjmanner that so f thedevice can move sidewise on the supporting surface as the spindle swaysor changes its position sidewise. This steadying bear.-

ng comprises-a head 0f block 20, preferably" annular in form,"which\surrounds the spindle, .orthroughfwhich the spindle passes loosely, and'a series of flexible'or yielding cont-act members 21,k preferably threein number, which are attachedtoor supported by the headand Awhichbearagainst the* spindle at different points circumferentially. Thestationary frame Dis provided with al horizontal-supporting surface 22on which ythey head 20 rests loosely `in such manner that it can movesidewise on said surface as the spindle changes its position.l This supnporting surface is preferably surrounded by a fixed collar or guard "23,whichlimits the.V

sideWise movement of the head 20 to the perv missible range.` The framemay be provided with a bushing 2li which surrounds the spindle below thesupporting surface and Ain which the spindle has similar play. n Thehead 20 isprovided in its base portion with an opening 25 throughwhichthe vspindle passes with considerable clearance, and above the baseportion with upright grooves 26 which extend across the head in thedirection of chords with reference to the circular periphery of the heador tangentially with reference to the spindle. Each pair of thesegrooves contains one of the contact members 21 which is arranged on edgein the grooves and supported in the same with its end portions, whilethe intermediate ormiddle portion 27 of the contact member is exposed inthe central portion of the head and bears against the spindle. Themiddle portion 27 of each contact member is preferably curved andpresents its concave side to the spindle. The grooves 26 divide theupper portion of the head into broad or blunt sector-shaped portions 2Sand narrow, wedge-shaped portions 29, the blunt portions having concaveinner faces which clear the curved middle portions of the contactmembers. The latter intersect each other and are preferably bifurcatedon one side of the middle or provided with two longitudinal arms 30separated by a space 31, and on the o-pposite side with a single arm 32which passes through the space between the arms of the adjacent member.TheV contact members are preferably formed with bent or curved endportions 33 which bear against the head or block. The steadying membersare readily inserted into the grooves of the head or removed therefrom,and can be readily repaired or renewed when required. The intersectingarrangement of the contact members is very compact and permits of theuse of comparatively K long members. The grooved portion of the head ispreferably inclosed by a removable cover 34 of sheet metal. The contactmembers are constructed of flexible material for instance, sheet brassor steel, and form thin blades which yield when the spindle comes intocontact with them. The head is made of heavy material, such as cast ironor steel, and is of such size and weight that its inertia and thefrictional y contact with its support offer considerable resistance to aforce which tends to move it sidewise on its seat or supporting surface.

In the operation of this steadying device the spindle makes contact withthe contact members which bear lightly against the spindle. 'When thespindle sways or moves sidewise out of its position in seeking itsnatural axis of rotation it flexes one or several of the contact membersuntil the inertia and frictional resistance of the head are overcome andthereafter the head moves sidewise, together with the contact members,until the spindle has reached the position in which it rotates steadilyand without vibration or gyrat-ion. The movable head forms a floatingsupport for the contact members and holds the same in position to theextent to which its inertia and frictional resistance resistany forcewhich tends to move it side- Vnatural axis of rotation and causes thesame to rotate without rebound, gyration or vibration and withouttransmitting vibrations to the stationary frame.

In the embodiment of the invention represented in Figs. 7-12, thesteadying device is applied to the lower end of a suspended bowl. Frepresents the bowl, Gr the suspension bearing, H the stationary frame,IV the inlet nipple at the `lower end of the bowl, K the supply pipe forthe milk, and L the steadying device which surrounds the nipple I andrests on a horizontal seat or supporting surface 40 formed in the frame.The steadying device shown in these figures differs slightly from thatalready described in that the contact members 41 are not bent or curvedin the middle and the grooves 42 in the head are straight and divide theupper portion of the head into blunt or broad sector-shaped portions 43,outer wedge-shaped portions 44, and inner wedge-shaped portions 45. Theintermediate or middle portions of the contact members are exposed andmake contact with the spindle or nipple between the inner portions 45 ofthe head.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a rotary shaft, of a movable steadying head,yielding contact members mounted on said head and movablebodilytherewith, said members being adapted to contact with said shaft, and astationary support on which said head is movable laterally withreference to the shaft in any direction together with said contactmembers, whereby the shaft in changing its position laterally makescontact with one or more of said yielding members and through the lattermoves the head on its support, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a rotary shaft, of a movable steadying headwhich surrounds said shaft and in which the shaft is movable laterallywith reference to its axis in any direction, yielding contact membersmounted on said head and movable bodily therewith, said members beingadapted to make contact with said shaft, and a stationary suppo-rto-nwhich said head is movable laterally in any direction with reference tothe axis of the shaft, substantially as set forth.

3. In a steadying device fora rotary shaft, the combination of a headcarrying exible blades adapted to make contact by their free portionswith the shaft, and a stationary 1 OISA iroi support having a seat onWhich said head moves sidewise vwith reference to the axis of the shaftas the latter svvays, substantially as set forth. y Y

4. In a steadying device for a rotary shaft, the combination of a headcarrying flexible blades Which are supported near their ends and free atthe middle and make contact by their free portions With the shaft, and astationary support having a seat on Which said head moves sidevvise withreference to vthe axis of the shaft as the latter sways, substantiallyas set forth.-

5. A steadying device for a rotary shaft comprising a grooved supportinghead and flexible contactmembers arranged in the grooves of the head andcrossing each other, substantially as set forth.

6. A steadying device kforl arotary shaft comprising ay groovedsupporting head and Copies of'this patent may be obtained for 7 Asteadying device for a rotary shafty comprising a grooved supportinghead and iexible contact members arranged in the grooves of the headandcrossing each other,

each member having one of its end portions v bifurcated and the oppositeend portion re duced in width and arranged in the bifurcation of theadjacent member, substantially as setrforth. v

Witness my hand in the vpresence of tw Subscribing Witnesses.

M MATTHEW L. HOYT. Witnesses R. K. MINER, rLooMIs BUBRELL.

ve cents each,` by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. CJ

